There once lived a priest in a little country town. Its streets were lined with beautiful palm trees, and its well of water was deep, cool, and sweet. This priest had a son who was so strong and brave that he was greatly beloved by his father. Often when he talked with his father, he said, as many other boys have said, that some day when he was older he wanted to be a soldier. He often looked from the door of his home upon the passing army of soldiers, with their glittering armor and shining spears, and then, sometimes, boylike, he would follow the procession to the city gates and wave his hand to them, as he saw the flying banners disappear in the distance. When he grew up, he was of the same mind, and one day never to be forgotten he said good-by to his father and all his old friends and went a long journey to join the king's army. His bravery soon made him famous, so much so that he was soon promoted to the position of captain. Once he was met by two robbers of another nation, who thought they could easily kill him, and so rid their nation of a troublesome and powerful enemy, but they did not find this to be so easy a task, because he was so strong, and his sword was so powerful, and he fought so desperately that he not only made his escape, but left his two persecutors dead by the roadside. He was a good soldier and fought well with his sword of defence. One winter's day there came a man, in great haste, crying out, "There is a lion prowling about just outside the city gate." All the children were greatly frightened and ran into their houses and shut the door to keep the mad lion from entering their homes to destroy them. It was a cold, long winter, and the lion was hungry. He had been unable to find his food in the wild woods, and had come to the walls of the town in search of food. Wolves and other wild animals do the same thing. All the people were alarmed, so they sent their messenger in haste to the brave soldier with the mighty sword. He was urged by this messenger to make haste and come out and kill this lion before its hunger should drive it to enter into the town and carry off some man or woman, or perhaps some little boy or girl. When the brave man heard this he quickly took his sword and followed the guide to the place where he had seen the lion. Some of the people informed him that it had fallen into a pit and was struggling to get out and roaring with madness. When the brave man saw this, he sprang into the pit with the lion, and after a terrible struggle killed it with his sword. He was so handy with his sword, that I think, just as the lion was about to make a mad rush upon him, he gave him such a mighty sword-thrust that the lion fell back dead into the pit. So we see he was not afraid of man or beast. He knew how to give a fatal sword-thrust that gave him victory at last.